Spicy Fava Bean Stew With Cumin and Olive Oil
Warming Middle Eastern fava bean stew built on toasted cumin, garlic, and chile flakes, finished with tahini and fresh lemon. Customizable texture: leave whole for brothiness or mash partly for stew body or entirely for a creamy dip. Drizzle with extra olive oil at the table.
Ingredients
- 4 clove garlic, peeled
- 1 ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, freshly toasted
- 2 teaspoon chile flakesfresh green chile1 medium per 1 tspfresh;herbal
more vibrant heat
- kosher salt
- 2 15-ounce can fava beans
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- extra virgin olive oil, for serving(optional)
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice, from 2 lemons, or more to taste
Instructions
- 1
Crush garlic cloves, toasted cumin seeds, chile flakes, and a pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle until seeds crack and garlic breaks into small pieces; alternatively, mince garlic very fine.
- 2
Empty one can of fava beans with its liquid into a medium saucepan; drain the second can and add the drained beans, garlic paste, olive oil, and tahini.
- 3
Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the liquid thickens to a sauce-like consistency while retaining some brothiness, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Adjust seasoning with lemon juice and salt to taste.
- 5
Mash one third of the beans with a potato masher for a thicker stew, or mash all beans if making a rich dip; alternatively, leave unmashed for a brothier consistency.
- 6
Serve with additional olive oil drizzled at the table.
Tips
Toasting cumin seeds before crushing releases their oils and deepens their flavor.
Using one can undrained and one drained creates the balance of broth and body.
Mashing intensity affects final texture: one third for stew consistency, all for dip, none for brothier result.
Good to Know
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or olive oil.
Toast cumin seeds and prepare garlic paste up to 1 day ahead. Assemble and cook up to 2 hours before serving; reheat before mashing.
Drizzle generously with extra olive oil and serve warm with pita bread, fresh vegetables, or alongside grilled meats.
Common Mistakes
Don't cook longer than 5 minutes or the beans will become mushy and lose structure.
Don't skip the salt adjustment at the end; it brightens the dish significantly.
Don't add lemon juice before the initial cook or it may prevent the sauce from thickening properly.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Vegan Options
General Alternatives
more vibrant heat